Real Madrid had the higher proportion of nominees in the final rankings for the 2024 Ballon d’Or ahead of Manchester City and Arsenal. It comes as no surprise following last season’s impressive campaign in Europe, clinching the UEFA Champions League for the fifteen times and winning the Spanish La Liga.
The Award was introduced in 1956 to reward Europe’s most talented outfield players. Over the years, it has grown to be the standard of excellence within and across Europe. This year’s award saw the end of a 21-year-old era of footballing giants Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo’s nominations in the category, as both players were missing out on the list, following their move to the MLS and Saudi Pro League respectfully.
Apart from Lionel Messi’s dominance at the award, Real Madrid players have won the majority of Ballon d’Or in football history. They averaged a win every 2-3 years in the last two decades, showing their dominance in European football. Exceptional players from across the globe come to the Bernabeu to have an edged advantage to win the award. This year’s nominations took place at the traditional Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France on Wednesday, September 4. Here is an overview of Los Blancos players in the list:
Jude Bellingham
Dani Carvajal
Toni Kroos
Kylian Mbappe
Antonio Rudiger
Federico Valverde
Vinicius Jr.
Only six of these players remain with Los Blancos. Toni Kroos called time to his professional footballing career after last season’s UCL victory and Euro with Germany. After joining Madrid this summer, Kylian Mbappe would compete with his recent performances and those gathered from his final season at Paris Saint-German.
The top contenders for the award are Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham after their impressive stats for the Spanish Giants last season. They would face fierce competition with Manchester City’s and Euro 2024 winner Rodri who had an outstanding and record-breaking season in the 2023/24 season.
REAL MADRID INJURY TROUBLE IS GROWING
Real Madrid’s injury worries keep getting worse with every game. They have struggled through the beginning of the season with several key players sidelined due to fitness issues. They drew two opening League games and currently sit four points behind close rivals Barcelona. As the La Liga table starts taking a strong form, much of the attention has turned toward the recovery and possible return of these important players, whose contributions will be needed for the team’s success down the line.
It’s not how fans would have envisioned this season for Los Blancos. They have been hit with a variety of unexpected injuries, most evolving from minor fitness issues to serious dislocation problems, forcing Head coach Carlo Ancelotti to constantly adjust his Line-up with more suited options. The medical team at Real Madrid is working diligently to rehabilitate the injured players, from muscle strains to long-term recoveries, aiming to get them back on the field as soon as possible. Fans are also eagerly awaiting news on their favorite stars, hoping for a swift return that could be crucial to the team’s success this season.
With every game getting harder than anticipated, the International break has provided much-needed relief for the Club and fans, and a timely return of these players to action is highly anticipated. Below, we will examine the current updates on each injured Real Madrid player, giving detailed insights into their conditions, recovery progress, and potential return dates.
Jude Bellingham: Since joining the Galacticos from Borussia Dortmund in 2023, Jude Bellingham has been one of the most outstanding performers in European football. His omission from Madrid’s opening games has been felt in the attacking line and midfield. With Toni Kronos and Bellingham out of the line-up, Madrid still struggles to find the perfect build-up to goals. They have failed to score in the first half of their last three games.
Bellingham is recovering from a muscle injury in his right leg’s plantar region he sustained during training. Medical assessments confirmed the injury’s severity and the English star is expected to be out until around September 23. He was also omitted from Lee Carsley’s England squad for their UEFA Nations League games against the Republic of Ireland and Finland.
Dani Ceballos: Dani Ceballos joined Real Madrid in July 2017 and has remained a crucial addition to the Spanish giants. He picked up a knock in a match against his former side Real Betis. His recovery is said to last for about six weeks, meaning he could miss up to 12 games for Los Blancos, with a potential return in early November.
Eduardo Camavinga: Camavinga has bossed Real Madrid’s defensive midfield for years and is one of the best players in his position worldwide. He was sidelined due to a knee injury sustained just before the UEFA Super Cup final against Atalanta. He was expected to be out for six to seven weeks, but his recovery is progressing well, and he could be back by the end of this month.
Ferland Mendy: Mendy joined Real Madrid from Lyon in 2019 to replace the aging Marcelo. He recently left France’s training camp due to muscle fatigue in his shin. The injury may not be as serious as perceived. He is expected to be available for Real Madrid’s match against Real Sociedad after the International break in two weeks. Mendy has returned to Madrid and is recovering and training with the senior team.
Aurelien Tchouameni: Tchouameni also withdrew from France’s squad with a foot injury. While he returned to Madrid for further evaluation, the injury is believed to be minor, and like Mendy, he is expected to be fit for the away La Liga fixture with Real Sociedad.
David Alaba: David Alaba has been sidelined since his ACL injury early last season. His last game for the Los Blancos was on December 17, 2023 against Villarreal. He continues to deal with the aftermath of the injury. His initial resumption date was expected to be this October, but recent reports show his recovery may take longer than anticipated. No definitive date has been set for the Austrian’s return.
Joan Martinez
Young center-back Joan Martinez is also on Madrid’s long injury list. He underwent knee surgery following an ACL injury during first-team training. The 17-year-old defender is expected to be out until at least March 2025, with no specific return date confirmed yet.
UPCOMING REAL MADRID FIXTURES
Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid
Saturday, 14th September
Spanish La Liga 20:00
Real Madrid vs Stuttgart
Tuesday, 17th September
UEFA Champions League 20:00
Real Madrid vs Espanyol
Sunday, 22nd September
Spanish La Liga 16:00
Real Madrid vs Alaves
Wednesday, 25th September
Spanish La Liga 20:00
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid
Sunday, 29th September
Spanish La Liga 16:00
Lille vs Real Madrid
Wednesday, 2nd October
UEFA Champions League 20:00
Real Madrid vs Villarreal
Sunday, 6th October
Spanish La Liga 16:00
Celta Vigo vs Real Madrid
Sunday, 20th October
Spanish La Liga 16:00
Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund
Tuesday, 22nd October
UEFA Champions League 20:00
Real Madrid vs Barcelona
Sunday, 27th October
Spanish La Liga 16:00
GET AVAILABLE REAL MADRID TICKETS!
Mark your calendar for Los Blancos upcoming games by reserving a spot at the venues for yourself and your loved ones at the match stadiums. Get available Real Madrid Tickets that are currently in high demand and secure the best seats and views in the stadiums for an unforgettable experience. Secondary marketplaces remain your best spot to get the best reliable tickets to games with a hassle-free experience.
Real Madrid is days away from recording another Ballon D’or winner to cement their dominance in European football. They have also started the season in a not-so-bad way and would expect better results fitting to the quality of their team. The arrival of Kylian Mbappe and Endrick has only strengthened their attack, and their stats from the previous games say it all. Real Madrid has not only saved cost in bringing in the two players, but they have also given themselves an edge to fight and retain their La Liga title and Champions League as defending Champions while also eyeing other domestic triumphs.
Ancelotti’s men will hope that the current injury crisis will not get worse than it already is while the players are on international duty. Don’t forget to get your Real Madrid tickets early, and be part of their journey to victory in the 2024/25 season.
OTS News on Social Media